Aston Villa v Sunderland Post-Match Thread

[olaftab]

Doesn't sound like it was particularly pretty yesterday.

I've seen some boring games over the years. 2 X 0-0 v Bobby Gould's Cov Hoof Merchants in 1993 still pain me now. This was as bad as those.

Come on on pain scale cov home match in 93 was a warzone amputation with a sledge hammer without anaesthetics. Yesterday was tweezers!

[Ron Manager]

I havent got any logical reason why but I am really looking forward to the Southampton game. Will Lambert drop Benteke to the bench..no and will Christian come roaring back to form..he might. Will our defence cope with Lambert....they may well do.

For those of you making the long journey I hope our boys do you proud. Forget Sunderland lets move on.

[Gareth]

Having watched MotD and got frustrated that Ferdinand & Murphy were as uninciteful as the Alan's & Lawro...Murphy did impart one nugget of wisdom that we have a huge pitch that teams enjoy playing on...implies we are a soft touch or should be employing width...

Thought we were poor & lack a true #10 to try and break teams down but can't help but think a 7/10 performance from Benteke would have seen us win at a canter.

Need plan B, C & D because Benteke (however long he is here) won't always bale us out.

How picky was that ref?

Fletcher isn't keen on getting hurt is he, always thought he was a good player but y'day I thought he was soft, maybe why he is only at S'land!

[Hoppo]

Im a Lambert fan. He isn't the messiah though. He deserves criticism, he gets it. I haven't enjoyed a game of football at Villa park all season (2nd half v MCFC) aside.
I pay alot of money to go down and i expect some entertainment. We need something extra in the final third.

[nodge]

All through the game I thought the ref was Kevin (Chelsea's) Friend and that's why we didn't get any decisions, it wasn't till I got home and read the match report that I realized it wasn't.  Thinking about it now, Benteke must have really pissed some people off because the bloke in front of me even shouted something about him at one point and he hasn't uttered a word in the three seasons I've sat there!

[UK Redsox]

Thinking about it now, Benteke must have really pissed some people off because the bloke in front of me even shouted something about him at one point and he hasn't uttered a word in the three seasons I've sat there!

It was probably Benteke's capitulation to the the defensive legend that is John O'Shea that wound up the bloke in front of you.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Anyone know a site where you can compare player's stats between seasons?

Benteke looked incredibly immobile. Not sure whether he runs were wasted of wether he didn't bother.

He`s playing with his back to goal, not getting any service from the flanks, ball just gets hoofed up to him, were not playing with much width at the moment and its affecting his contribution greatly.

Agreed. When we have Gabby dropping deep or out by the touchline it allowed Sunderland to double up on Benteke and effectively take him out the game. Hoofing the ball up to him all afternoon is always going to play into the hands of the defenders. I really don't blame him looking disheartened, who wouldn't given such crap service. It's not as if it was only yesterday, we're currently such a poor footballing side that creates next to nothing, I can understand his frustration. It wouldn't surprise me if he's had a January move turned down. If I was him I'd be looking to get away as soon as possible.

[darren woolley]

I'm disappointed with our performance yesterday we just need to get a result against Southampton on Wednesday to get yesterday out of our system.

[Chris Smith]

Anyone know a site where you can compare player's stats between seasons?

Benteke looked incredibly immobile. Not sure whether he runs were wasted of wether he didn't bother.

He`s playing with his back to goal, not getting any service from the flanks, ball just gets hoofed up to him, were not playing with much width at the moment and its affecting his contribution greatly.

Agreed. When we have Gabby dropping deep or out by the touchline it allowed Sunderland to double up on Benteke and effectively take him out the game. Hoofing the ball up to him all afternoon is always going to play into the hands of the defenders. I really don't blame him looking disheartened, who wouldn't given such crap service. It's not as if it was only yesterday, we're currently such a poor footballing side that creates next to nothing, I can understand his frustration. It wouldn't surprise me if he's had a January move turned down. If I was him I'd be looking to get away as soon as possible.

That smacks of making excuses for him, we were set up much as were at when he had his best spell last season, he just didn't play very well yesterday - easily beaten in the air, poor first touch and a general lack of movement. He's coming back from injury so I'm not writing him off but it's a bit rich to blame others for his lacklustre efforts.

[class_of_82]

Lambert this lambert that Jesus Christ didn't seem to read all this slagging off of him after man city at home or west brom away etc etc etc. houllier slagged off MacLeish slagged off this is getting us know where. We ain't got no money to spend until we get rid of benteke who played like a player who is on his way in January I just hope it's a straight swap with lukaku. Yea we all know we played shite but like I've said before if u ain't gonna support the team or manager go and support a team who has been run by a pair of Man U supporting Asians a scrap metal merchant or a pair of west ham supporting cockneys with a Cardiff fan in tow. So next time the chant of Paul lamberts claret and blue army goes up come and tell us to shut the fook up but I doubt it very much. Villa till I die

[PaulWinch again]

That's quite a rant, but I think you'll find most people are fairly measured and it's not a case of you either think everything is perfect or you want Lambert out. There's quite a lot of middle ground between those, and criticism doesn't mean you don't support the side.

[Toronto Villa]

Lambert this lambert that Jesus Christ didn't seem to read all this slagging off of him after man city at home or west brom away etc etc etc. houllier slagged off MacLeish slagged off this is getting us know where. We ain't got no money to spend until we get rid of benteke who played like a player who is on his way in January I just hope it's a straight swap with lukaku. Yea we all know we played shite but like I've said before if u ain't gonna support the team or manager go and support a team who has been run by a pair of Man U supporting Asians a scrap metal merchant or a pair of west ham supporting cockneys with a Cardiff fan in tow. So next time the chant of Paul lamberts claret and blue army goes up come and tell us to shut the fook up but I doubt it very much. Villa till I die

Er...what?

[olaftab]

Er...what?

He is saying same thing as me and you but not in English. Luckily I speak perrybarrian so I understand and basically it's all positive stuff!

[class_of_82]

Sorry folks but sometimes it gets me so mad all this anti lambert stuff. Who would of picked a diff team from that one yesterday after the comeback against west brom. Gabby ran his heart out Delph was his usual self the defence is getting better. We all know we need a midfielder that can unlock defences and a goal poacher to. Also glad some of you can speak perry barrian actually I'm a essex boy from south bham and if you don't no why i call my self perry Barr pet then u don't no your history. Ok folks rant over villa till I die

[dave.woodhall]

Sorry folks but sometimes it gets me so mad all this anti lambert stuff. Who would of picked a diff team from that one yesterday after the comeback against west brom. Gabby ran his heart out Delph was his usual self the defence is getting better. We all know we need a midfielder that can unlock defences and a goal poacher to. Also glad some of you can speak perry barrian actually I'm a essex boy from south bham and if you don't no why i call my self perry Barr pet then u don't no your history. Ok folks rant over villa till I die

Because you've gone to the dogs?